Barnstable Village

A historic village with modern twist, there is plenty to do in the Barnstable Village Cultural District, a charming seaside village on the north side of Barnstable. A balance between colonial history and 21st century flair, the district is filled with historical buildings, quaint shops, working artist studios and galleries, locally-owned shops, musical and theater groups, and restaurants. The original county seat, the Greek Revival county courthouse (3195 Main Street) is built of Cape Cod granite. On the front lawn, bronze sculptures of Mercy Otis Warren and John Otis stand tall.

The district is steps away from Barnstable Harbor, a spectacular backdrop with its working waterfront and panoramic views of Sandy Neck Beach and Lighthouse. Visitors can learn about the harbor and beaches on an eco-tour or whale watcher tour where spotting whales along with seals and dolphins is always a treat.

Step back in time on a self-guided walking tour of sea captain and patriot homes from the 1600's; meet Smithy, a working blacksmith who will share stories about the inmates at the old jail and U.S. Customs House, now home to the U.S. Coast Guard Heritage Museum. Take a guided nighttime ghost walk through the centuries-old graveyard if you dare, led by storytellers from Tales of Cape Cod; or find your genealogical history with archives dating back to colonial times at Sturgis Library, the oldest library building in the United States. From community theater at Barnstable Comedy Club, outdoor concerts, lectures and gallery tours; chatting with the local potter while he creates right before your eyes, or taking part in one of several festivals. Throughout the year the district provides a full day of arts and cultural attractions, experiences, and memories.

Barnstable Historical Society Museum

Located in the heart of historic Barnstable Village, 3087 Main Street, Barnstable

The Museum displays early portraits of local sea captains, maritime memorabilia and several rooms with early memroabilia and collections.

Admission is free.

Off season hours call to schedule an appointment to visit the museum or email : 508-362-2982 or info@barnstablehistory.org

Barnstable Village Civic Association

Each of our village associations support our year round and part time residents, playing a vital role in enhancing the best interests of the community; fostering and promoting local businesses represent the interests of citizens on matters that affect neighborhoods, citizens and quality of life in the villages.

Barnstable Village Historical Map and self guided walking tour

A self guided walking tour in historic Barnstable Village.

Trace history as you stroll through the self-guided tour, and experience the rich historical heritage of this area on the Old King’s Highway. Walk from the Barnstable House, just beyond Rendezvous Lane to the Unitarian Church and cemeteries, start at any point on the map and follow in either direction. It traces the evolution of the area, hopefully creating a picture of what life was like here in its early history.

Free maps are available at Cape Cod Art Association, area Barnstable Village businesses and online.

Cape Cod Art Association and Photography Center of Cape Cod

An organization dedication to promoting the creation and appreciation of visual art and artists. The CCAA includes a gift shop, two galleries for monthly exhibitions and two studios for classes, demonstrations and workshops in a variety of art media.

Coast Guard Heritage Museum

Features items and information covering the history of the Life Saving Service as it existed on Cape Cod. Greeting visitors onsite is also the "Village Smithy", part of the Old Jail House, America's oldest wooden jail and museum.

Lothrop Hill Cemetery

Reverend John Lothrop founded Barnstable in 1639. His tomb stil sits in Barnstable's Lothrop Hill Cemetery alongside his extensive family.

Rev. John Lothropp (1584–1653) — sometimes spelled Lothrop orLathrop — was an English Anglican clergyman, who became a Congregationalist minister and emigrant to New England. He was among the first settlers of Barnstable, Massachusetts. Perhaps Lothropp's principal claim to fame is that he was a strong proponent of the idea of the Separation of Church and State (also called "Freedom of Religion"). This idea was considered heretical in England during his time, but eventually became the mainstream view of people in the United States of America, because of the efforts of John Lothropp and others. Lothropp left an indelible mark on the culture of New England, and through that, upon the rest of the country. He has had many notable descendents, including at least 6 US presidents, as well as many other prominent Governors, and government and business people.

Map of TOB seven villages and Kennedy Legacy Walking Trail

Tales of Cape Cod

One of the first organizations in the country to preserve oral history, via the tape recording of interviews with old time Cape Codders. Tales of Cape Cod preserves and disseminates Cape Cod's unique history in many ways including special events held throughout the year, historical lectures, and re-enactments.

W.F. Jones House, Museum and Research Facility, Home of the Barnstable Historical Society

Upcoming events in Barnstable Village

Barnstable Village self guided walking tour daily

August 19, 2017 12:00 pm

A self guided walking tour in historic Barnstable Village.

Trace history as you stroll through the self-guided tour, and experience the rich historical heritage of this area on the Old King’s Highway. Walk from the Barnstable House, just beyond Rendezvous Lane to the Unitarian Church and cemeteries, start at any point on the map and follow in either direction. It traces the evolution of the area, hopefully creating a picture of what life was like here in its early history.

Free maps are available at Cape Cod Art Association, area Barnstable Village businesses and online.

August 22, 2017 6:00 pm

Sea & Sand PhotoTour (Sandwich & Barnstable)
Location: Sandwich OR Barnstable
Guide: Susan Simon
Day: Tuesday Evenings. Dates listed below
Time: 6:00/6:30pm- (Begins about 2 hours before sunset, ends with last light)
Price: Members $35/Non-Members $40
Please see below for specified times. Meeting location will be emailed prior to tour date.
Journey with us to explore and photograph classic scenes of Cape Cod. Photographer Susan Simon will guide you to some of her favorite local spots to capture some of the Cape’s special magic. We will visit beaches after the crowds have departed, quiet town landings and marshes, as well as occasional stops at nearby sites such as watermills and botanical gardens. Susan will offer instruction and tips on creative photography techniques, composition, and how to “see” a scene.
August 22– Sandwich @ 6:00pm (Meet at Greenbriar Nature Center, 6 Discovery Hill Rd, East Sandwich, MA 02537)

**Price includes the whale watch and a two hour pre-shoot prep & review. (8 Hours)**

Limited to six attendees per whale workshop and adventure.

Being on-board a boat and experiencing close-up encounters of whales is very special. These majestic mammals often venture quite close to the boat. It can, however, be quite difficult to capture behaviors with your camera. This exciting new workshop is designed so that you will acquire all the skills necessary to capture great shots of whales. Tom will not only present some group sessions, he will also help each participant individually as needed, to make sure their cameras are set up correctly and that they are ‘up-to-speed’ with their photographic techniques. Once everyone is set up, Tom will walk around the boat coaching the participants, to make sure they are ready for when the whales start to appear and getting well composed images with proper exposure and focus using techniques keyed upon in the morning workshop.

Art Excursion to Cuttyhunk Island 9/9

September 9, 2017 7:30 am

Day Excursion to Cuttyhunk Island
Saturday, September 9th (rain date Sept. 23)
7:30am-4:00pm
((Boat leaves from Falmouth at 8:00am sharp, and departs Cuttyhunk at 3:00pm))
Price: $45
Venture out to the remote Cuttyhunk Island for a unique day excursion to take inspirational photographs or paint directly from nature. Cuttyhunk Island is located off the coast of Falmouth, MA. It was once host to a military observation point during World War II. The island is full of natural inspiration including a pristine nature preserve and scenic cliff walk, quaint houses and spectacular views of the water. Cuttyhunk is the last island on the chain of the Elizabeth Islands.

Treasures Fine Art Exhibit Sep 11-October 15, 2017

September 11, 2017 9:00 am

Color has the ability to make something stand out and add prominence to a painting. Picture a lone red flower in a field of green or a bright children’s picture book tucked among a shelf of encyclopedias. Artists communicate many themes in their artwork through their use of color. Visit Cape Cod Art Association between August 14 and September 10 to view artwork by CCAA Juried Artists members. Vote for your favorite piece to win the coveted People’s Choice Award.

**Price includes the whale watch and a two hour pre-shoot prep & review. (8 Hours)**
Limited to six attendees per whale workshop and adventure.

Being on-board a boat and experiencing close-up encounters of whales is very special. These majestic mammals often venture quite close to the boat. It can, however, be quite difficult to capture behaviors with your camera. This exciting new workshop is designed so that you will acquire all the skills necessary to capture great shots of whales. Tom will not only present some group sessions, he will also help each participant individually as needed, to make sure their cameras are set up correctly and that they are ‘up-to-speed’ with their photographic techniques. Once everyone is set up, Tom will walk around the boat coaching the participants, to make sure they are ready for when the whales start to appear and getting well composed images with proper exposure and focus using techniques keyed upon in the morning workshop.

Perfect Paintings with Pixelmator w/ Mary Moquin 9/23

September 23, 2017 9:30 am

Perfect Painting with Pixelmator
Instructor: Mary Moquin
Day: Saturday, September 23
Time: 9:30am-3:00pm
Price: Members $110/Non-Members $140
Have you ever had a painting you are stuck on? You just can’t seem to figure out what to do to make it better? Learn how to use your iPad to explore different solutions before you dive in on the real thing. Pixelmator is a pretty intuitive application that is easy to learn. I will take you step by step through the various tools.

September 29, 2017 9:00 am

Art of Landscape Photography (Cape Cod National Seashore: Eastham)
Instructors: Ron Wilson & Bob Bergeron
Day: Friday-Sunday, September 29-October 1
Time: Varies
Price: Members $325/Non-Members $375
Location: Four Points Sheraton Hotel- Eastham
From the ocean to the bay, explore sites in the National Seashore during autumn when the air turns crisp and the beaches are empty. The color lingers longer on the cape. From the marshes that slowly transition from summer green to burnt golden hues of November, to the dunes where the crimson leaves of Virginia creeper are on display and a woodland mix of birch, beach, maples and tupelos with deep russets and umbers.

All New England Open Juried Exhibit and Sale October 16th to November 12th, 2017

October 16, 2017 3:05 pm

ALL NEW ENGLAND
Judges & Prospectus
Both Galleries
October 16-November 12
Nationally Advertised
Open Juried Exhibit and Sale
JPEG’s Due: Friday, September 8
Receiving Day: Monday, October 16
Reception: Thursday, October 19
from 5-7pm
Awards presented at 6pm
Pick up: Monday, November 13
Jurying: Over $2,000 in prizes including Best New England Landscape.
This annual open juried exhibit aims to honor the wonderful and vast
region of New England from the shores of Cape Cod to the mountains of
Vermont. This exhibit is open to all artists and any subject matter will be
considered. There is a special award for Best New England Landscape.
Visit https://client.smarterentry.com/capecodart
to enter online.
An open juried New England themed exhibit where all artists far and wide
may enter.
$20 members /$25 non members entry
fees…Prospectus will be available on our website
www.CapeCodArtAssoc.org

October 19, 2017 9:00 am

With intricate details in the landscape and sky — from the brilliant orange-golds of sunrise to the theatrical colors of sunset, the luminous blues of twilight and the otherworldy light of midnight — the latest digital technologies allow photographers to push the bounds of what can be captured with a camera. Creative vision and good field craft are also paramount to creating compelling images. In this power-packed workshop, professional nature photographer Mark Bowie will examine in-depth the fine art of seeing, offering innovative strategies, tips and techniques for looking deeper, refining your personal vision to create expressive imagery. He’ll also share processing techniques to convey the desired effect.
Mark will lead day and night photography field sessions to some of the Cape’s finest scenery: the ocean, beaches, marshes, woods, lighthouses and fishing villages. During indoor instructional sessions, he’ll explore the beautiful interaction of light and subject that speaks to somewhere deep within us.

October 21, 2017 9:30 am

Oil Painting with a Limited Palette (for Beginners/Intermediate)
At the Yarmouth-Port Fire House
Instructor: George Scribner
Day: Saturday, October 21
Time: 9:30am-3:3opm
Price: Members $145/Non-Members $165
This is a beginning to intermediate oil painting workshop (OK if you prefer acrylics). Using a basic set of supplies and a limited palette of colors, a simple step by step approach to oil painting will be reviewed… from simple drawing tips to mixing a full range of colors using a limited set of colors.
What will be covered:
Materials- what you need and don’t need to begin
What is the center interest to your painting
Tips for drawing on your canvas
The power of values- the underlying structure of every good painting
Location: Yarmouth-port Fire Station (Meeting Room), 340 RT. 6A

Painting the Figure in the Landscape (Intermediate/Adv.) w/ George Scribner 10/22

October 22, 2017 9:30 am

Painting the Figure in the Landscape (for Intermediate/Advanced)
Instructor: George Scribner
Day: Sunday, October 22
Time: 9:30am-3:3opm
Price: Members $145/Non-Members $165
This is an intermediate to advanced oil painting workshop on adding people to your landscape paintings.
What will be covered:
Why add figures to your painting?
Simple sips to drawing the figure
Paint a cylinder, not an arm… (paint shapes)
Does the figure make a strong silhouette?
Creating a story
Location: Yarmouth-port Fire Station (Meeting Room)
340 Route 6A, Yarmouth-port, MA

Barnstable Village Halloween Stroll 10/28

October 28, 2017 4:30 pm

Barnstable Village Halloween Stroll
Starts at 4:30 PM on the County Courthouse Complex
All are welcome. The Barnstable Village Association looks forward to enjoying their community, young and old, celebrating their creativity, individuality and community spirit.

Wet into Wet (watercolor) w/ Evelyn Bernal 11/4

November 4, 2017 9:30 am

Wet into Wet (watercolor)
Instructor: Evelyn Bernal
Day: Saturday, November 4
Time: 9:30-3:30
Price: Members $95/Non-Members $125
Join award-winning artist Evelyn Bernal for this exciting “Wet into Wet” watercolor workshop. This day will focus on water and the landscape. Evelyn will discuss how water and pigment move with a focus on using wet into wet techniques. The morning will consist of demos, exercises and ultimately painting flowers. The afternoon will be focused on painting the landscape and trees with continued demo and instruction on allowing the paint and water to move freely.

Photoshop: Masks & Layers w/ Betty Wiley 11/7

November 7, 2017 6:00 pm

Photoshop: Masks & Layers
Instructor: Betty Wiley
Day: Tuesday, November 7
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Price: Members $70/Non-members $90
Understanding layers and masks in Photoshop
Layers and masks are powerful tools in Photoshop/Photoshop Elements and can really be described as the heart and soul in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. This evening workshop is designed to demystify layers and masks in Photoshop and Elements and you will see the many ways that these tools can be used in your editing workflow. Layers and masks are really quite simple to use.
This will be a hands-on class where you will bring your own laptop and work on sample images, step-by-step. The goal is for you to leave this workshop with a good understanding of how to use layers and masks. A handout will be provided to workshop attendees.
This class is geared toward those who have Photoshop or Photoshop Elements (versions that support the use of layers). Students should have some familiarity with either program although proficiency is not required. This is not a computer class however and students will need to know how to access files and navigate the computer.

November 14 Photoshop: Masks & Layers w/ Betty Wiley 11/14

November 14, 2017 6:00 pm

Layers and masks are powerful tools in Photoshop/Photoshop Elements and can really be described as the heart and soul in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. This evening workshop is designed to demystify layers and masks in Photoshop and Elements and you will see the many ways that these tools can be used in your editing workflow. Layers and masks are really quite simple to use.

This will be a hands-on class where you will bring your own laptop and work on sample images, step-by-step. The goal is for you to leave this workshop with a good understanding of how to use layers and masks. A handout will be provided to workshop attendees.

This class is geared toward those who have Photoshop or Photoshop Elements (versions that support the use of layers). Students should have some familiarity with either program although proficiency is not required. This is not a computer class however and students will need to know how to access files and navigate the computer.

November 18, 2017 1:00 pm

Sky Replacement Techniques using Photoshop/Elements
(and Plug-ins such as Perfect Layers from On-One and Luminar from MacPhun)
Instructor: Betty Wiley
Date: Saturday, November 18
Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Cost: $70 Member/$90 Non Member
In this class, Betty will show you how to replace bland, boring, colorless skies focusing on using Photoshop/Photoshop Elements. The techniques that Betty will demonstrate in this session are relatively easy and fast and create a believable look. This is a popular class that Betty has taught to many groups and organizations. Learn how to jazz up your images by replacing those ugly, bland boring skies easily and quickly!
This class will be focused on techniques using Photoshop/Photoshop Elements however Betty will also demonstrate other ways to replace skies using plug-ins such as Perfect Layers from On-One and Luminar from MacPhun software. Perfect layers and Luminar are great alternatives if students do not own or use Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
This is a hands-on class because we believe everyone learns best by practicing and doing instead of simply watching a presentation. Therefore, students are encouraged to bring their own laptops. Basic computer skills are required and students should be able to find and access files on their own computers. Since this class is primarily geared toward techniques using Photoshop/Elements, students should be familiar with using this software although proficiency is not required to take this class.

Life after NIK/Google– Exploring other plug-ins such as Luminar (and others) w/ Betty Wiley 12/2

December 2, 2017 1:00 pm

Life After Nik/Google – Exploring other plug-ins such as Luminar (and others)
Instructor: Betty Wiley
Day: Saturday, December 2
Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm
Price: $70 Member/$90 Non Member
This class will be focused on using Luminar (by MacPhun Software which is a great alternative to the popular plug-in Google/NIK plug-in suite used by many photographers. As many of you know, Google recently announced that they would discontinue further support of the Google (formerly NIK) plugin software suite. Luminar is a plugin for Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as a standalone image editor. This means that there are lots of ways you can use this software in your editing workflow.
Luminar is very easy to use and comes with presets for quick editing and you can change the effects for the exact look you want. In this class, you will learn how to add Luminar to your Lightroom and Photoshop workflow and how to use Luminar in place of Nik/Google’s Color Efex Pro filters. There are a wide variety of presets that you can apply to create quick looks or add finishing touches. You can even use it in lieu of Photoshop if you are a Lightroom-only user. Luminar was initially only a Mac product but a Windows version (currently beta) was just released. Betty will show you how the Luminar interface works and how she uses the many filters, presets, and features to give her images extra pop or a special look. You can quickly create an Orton effect, add a golden hour look to your images, extract details, create a grunge or dreamy look in seconds plus much more!
This is a hands-on class because we believe everyone learns best by practicing and doing instead of simply watching a presentation. Therefore, students are encouraged to bring their own laptops.
Prerequisites: basic computer skills are required and students should know how to find and access files on their own computers. Luminar should be installed and running as there won’t be time during class to install the software. Please see the link below to download the software. Note that a trial version is available.

Contact Details

About us

The vibrant arts and culture community within the towns two cultural districts (Hyannis Hyarts and Barnstable Village) and in all villages illustrates the towns support of the creative economy and commitment to promoting and developing this area as a regional destination for the arts.

Get in Touch

In the Spotlight

Check out the Arts Barnstable brochure featuring all things arts and culture in all seven villages. Easy to follow map of downtown Hyannis HyArts and Barnstable Village Cultural Districts, the Kennedy Legacy Trail.